Despite protestations to the contrary, Oxfordshire Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust appears to be raking in a lot of cash by charging its patients to park.

In fact, in the financial year 2007-2008 the trust made £2.2m from parking fees at the John Radcliffe, Churchill and Horton hospitals.

That is the equivalent of a staggering £60,000 a day and will probably make many people’s eyes water.

The amount received was among the highest in the country and, understandably, has been labelled “appalling” by patients.

The ORH trust said the money it made from car park charges was not taken as profit and was ploughed back into “managing car parks effectively”.

Whatever the money is used for, it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those who pay to use them — many of whom are seriously ill.

In fairness, patients can understand the need to charge a nominal amount for parking, but ask why they need to be so expensive.

In the case of the JR in Headington, it is partly to do with the fact the hospital is in prime commuter territory, with staff and office workers discouraged from using the car park because of the prohibitive cost.

But that also discriminates against patients, too, which isn’t right.